Lemon + Baking Soda

Lemon and baking soda are opposite each other on the pH scale. Lemon contains an ingredient called citric acid with a pH level of around 3. Baking soda, on the other hand, is sodium bicarbonate with the lowest alkalinity at a pH level of 8.5. Mixing these ingredients together creates a neutral solution that can be utilized for a variety of uses.

A lemon and baking soda mixture is popularly used as a homemade all-purpose cleaner and deodorizer. It is also valuable in treating skin problems and body odor.

14 Amazing Uses of Lemon and Baking Soda

From cleaning your face to removing water stains on countertops, lemon and baking soda make an indispensable pair. Here is a list of their many other uses:

All-Purpose Cleaning

Water stains, soap scums, mold and mildews are a common nuisance in the bathroom tiles and kitchen. Many commercial cleaners are made to clean up this mess. However, they also contain strong bleach that is harmful when inhaled.

Baking soda and lemon are cost-effective and safe alternatives to bleach when it comes to surface cleaning. They effectively cut on grease, grime, mildew and stains for sparkly clean floors and countertops. Baking soda efficiently lifts stains away and lemon inhibits the growth of bacteria with its antimicrobial property. And like your commercial cleaner, it also leaves a strong citrus scent that is all-natural and without the stinging bleach.

To make an all-purpose cleaner, combine 1 tsp. baking soda, 2 tsp. vinegar, ¼ tsp dishwashing liquid, 1 tsp. lemon juice and 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well and apply it on the surface that needs a deep and thorough cleaning.

Dry-Cleaning

Got yellowing clothes and blankets that regular washing cannot undo? You probably think of dropping them to a professional dry cleaner. Unlike ordinary laundry, dry cleaners use liquid solvents to soak the fabric and lift the stains.

The combination of lemon and baking soda is also an effective solvent that works similarly to those used in dry cleaning. You can try it at home by mixing baking soda and lemon juice in a 1 tsp : 1 cup ratio. Soak the fabric in the mixture until the stains visibly lighten. Rinse it with cold water and air dry for a crisp and clean laundry.

Cleaning The Oven

Caked and burnt-on foods are tedious work, especially on the hard-to-reach surface of the oven. Fortunately, you can easily scrape them off by applying lemon and baking soda. Just cut off a lemon in half, dip it in baking soda and use it to scrub the inside of your oven, or sprinkle baking soda and squeeze lemon juice directly on the stains.

For microwave ovens, fill a microwaveable bowl with water and add lemon slices and a few tablespoons of baking soda. Set it on high for 3 minutes and let the bowl stay inside the oven for 5 more minutes. Remove the container and wipe the surface off. Food debris will easily come off for stress-free cleaning.

Streak-Free Window Cleaning

Citric acid and baking soda clean window glass without leaving unsightly residue. Many people use vinegar along with baking soda as well. If you want a fresher scent but with the same potent action, try using lemon juice instead. Cut a lemon in half, dip it in baking soda and scrub it on the window before rinsing to enjoy sparkling windows.

Unclogging Drains

Minor clogs in the drain are easily remedied with baking soda and lemon without the need for a plumber. The mixture can dissolve limescale, grease and other residues that may have caused the clogging.

Dump ½ cup baking soda into the drain then pour over ½ cup lemon juice. The foaming action of the mixture works on the matter that pooled inside the drain and caused the clogging.

Cleaning Plastic Containers

Your ordinary dishwashing detergent cannot effectively cut through the grease and stains in plastic food containers. It is also hard to get rid of the odor that is stuck in it. Citric acid and baking soda are an excellent combination for all your plasticware problems.

Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and add a tsp. of baking soda. Leave the mixture overnight and rinse them out for a squeaky clean and fresh-smelling container.

Brightening Copper Cookware

Cut a lemon in half, dip it into baking soda and use it to scrub copper utensils and cookware. The combo is effective in de-griming and degreasing the material without corroding it. It can also produce clean and sparkly utensils without you having to spend on expensive copper cleaning agents.

Whitening Teeth

If you need an immediate tooth-whitening fix, lemon and baking soda paste is the answer. To make a paste, mix ½ tbsp lemon juice and 1 tsp baking soda and stir them well. This duo is powerful in removing surface stains to lighten and brighten your teeth. The antibacterial property of lemon also prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms in the mouth.

The mixture is super effective but overdoing the method can corrode the enamel. Do not use it more than twice a month or once a week when needed. If you want a gentler cleaning, leave out the lemon juice and use baking soda for brushing instead. But, do not overdo it as well and use it no more than two times a week.

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Caring For the Skin

The skin is slightly acidic for keeping the bacteria out and locking the moisture in. Its pH balance is often thrown off due to environmental causes. When it gets too acidic or exposed to sweat, the skin gets inflamed and develops skin conditions like acne and eczema. Too alkaline and you will risk having red and flaky skin.

The neutrality of lemon and baking soda mixture proves to be beneficial when it comes to maintaining the skin’s acidity level. It cleanses the skin and lightens it without disrupting the barrier function. It will ultimately solve various skin problems like hyperpigmentation, age spots, skin irritation, acne and many others.

Make a mask with 1 tbsp. lemon juice and 2 tbsp. baking soda. Apply it on your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Do this once a week.

Weight Loss

Experts have contrasting takes on this, but they do agree that baking and lemon juice have indirect implications for weight loss.

The alkalizing effect of baking soda is important in preventing weight gain. When mixed with lemon juice and taken on an empty stomach, they can help curb appetite to prevent overeating. The mixture is effective in promoting good digestion and increasing metabolism.

If you want to lose weight, take lemon and baking soda in this form: mix 1 tsp. baking soda with 2 tbsp. lemon juice. Once the fizz subsides, add water to dilute it and drink on an empty stomach.

Flatulence

For immediate relief from bloating and gassiness, mix ¼ tsp. baking soda and 1 tsp. lemon juice in water. It helps dispel gas to alleviate the symptoms fast. It is also an effective remedy for indigestion and constipation.

Neutralizing Stomach Acid

Medication, infection and some health conditions cause an increase in stomach acid. Too much acid secretion is very discomforting and often leads to heartburn, bloating, nausea, reflux and an upset stomach. Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is one of the most effective home remedies for stomach acid.

But, why take lemon juice when it is by itself an acid?

Lemon juice and sodium bicarbonate mixture produces sodium citrate. It is a similar ingredient to antacids that prevents sudden pH changes in the stomach. So, while lemon juice does not neutralize acid, it does help stabilize stomach pH levels.

For digestive upset, add 1 tsp. baking soda and a few drops of lemon juice to a cup of warm water. Stir it well and drink twice a day for quick relief.

Acidosis

Acid does not only pool up in the stomach but may also overwhelm the body. Metabolic acidosis is a result of the overproduction of acid or excessive loss of bicarbonate in the blood. When the blood becomes acidic, the brain works hard to regulate body functions. Thus, patients will experience faster and deeper breathing, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

To soothe acidosis, the goal is to alkalize. And you can achieve this by regular intake of neutral solution that stabilizes internal acidity. Try it with these simple steps:

1. Put a lemon in the freezer and grate it once frozen.
2. Add the grated lemon to a liter of water. Use a water container with a cap for it.
3. Mix in ½ tsp baking soda, shake it well and drink during the day.
4. Repeat the procedure at night, but you don’t have to drink all the one-liter mixture.
5. Check your urine acidity using a pH strip every morning and continue with the therapy until it reaches pH 7.

Canker Sores

Canker sores or aphthous ulcers are small lesions that grow inside the mouth. They are not contagious and go away after a week but they are very painful when swallowing and eating. To speed up their healing, prepare a gargle of lemon juice and baking soda mixed in warm water.

Mix 1 tsp. baking soda with the juice of 1 lemon and ½ cup water in a glass. Use about 1 to 2 tbsp.  of the solution as a gargle before rinsing with plain water. Do this twice a day for canker sores, sore throat and gingivitis.

Takeaway

Lemon and baking soda are two of the most prominent ingredients in natural and DIY home cleaning hacks. But they serve a lot more beneficial purposes than just sanitizing your kitchen counters. You can basically use them anywhere thorough cleaning is needed.

The combined effect of these ingredients is also very helpful in treating health problems and improving skin health. So, keep these products handy for times you need to neutralize body acidity, eliminate odor and for various home cleaning purposes.

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